Visitors From Kazakhstan

Ex-soviets Eagerly Explore U.s. Stores

"It is good," said Kouspanova, who admitted fruit is at times an uncommon treat in her country of Kazakhstan, the second largest of the 15 former Soviet republics.

Kouspanova and a few dozen other Kazakhs got a taste of American food and life during a 19-day trip to Virginia, which ends Monday.

The group that toured Tidewater represents a fraction of the 300 businessmen, artists and dignitaries visiting the United States in May as part of a project co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptist convention and Central Asian Foundation Inc. The trip is called Kazakh-American Festival Senim II, during which Kazakhs visit the United States to exchange ideas on business, culture and education.

The first phase of the project was held last summer, when 300 Americans, including 22 Virginians, spent two weeks in Kazahkstan, which declared its independence last year.

The 50-member delegation that toured Virginia was divided between Richmond, the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads. Those who came to the Peninsula stayed with area Baptists and were escorted by members of the Peninsula Baptist Association, said Thelma Tignor, coordinator.

The trip "is to let them know how we do things," said Tignor. "Hopefully they will establish some relationships in Virginia and maybe establish a business here."

Though most of those in the group are Muslim, some attended Christian churches with their host families, said Tignor.

"We have exposed them to Christianity," said Tignor.

Highlights of the trip included trips to the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel to examine the technology involved in making the structure and a Smithfield meat-packing plant to see the refrigeration process.

The visitors marveled at the merchandise selection at Wal-mart and Kmart, where pocket calculators and Levi's jeans proved the most popular souvenirs.

"It's a lot different from our shops," said Kouspanova, a teacher who translated for the group, which included a college professor, a TV journalist and a politician. "There is so much clothing and shoes."

Several of the visitors were impressed by the behavior of students at Hampton Christian Schools and Newport News' Hidenwood Elementary.

But Azhmakhan Igembajev, a philosophy professor at a Kazakh college, was especially impressed by American women. "They are so pretty," said Igembajev, who runs the Miss Silk Road pageant, which attracts women from India, Pakistan, Italy and Greece. "I would like them to take part in a competition."